09/21/2017

Audiobook Review: Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker

Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania: population two thousand outside of tourist season. And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed attempt at a relationship, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has saved: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling. Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works. For a time. But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. What begins as an immediate friendship quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something that Catherine is afraid to trust. Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine…before the spark fades? Paperback, 356 pagesPublished June 27th 2017 by Atria BooksSource: Publisher

Three and a half stars: A cute rag to riches/ Cinderella story, but it felt a bit too good to be true.

Catherine is used to struggles. She has worked to make it on her own since she was seventeen years old. After an illicit affair with her high school teacher, Catherine became the town pariah. At twenty four, she has fought to make ends meet and to provide a home for her five year old daughter. Everything changes one night as Catherine heads home on a dark, curvy road. Catherine comes upon a deadly car crash. Risking her life, Catherine saves Brett Madden a hockey icon. Catherine wants to hide as she doesn’t want her name back in the spotlight. What she doesn’t expect is a friendship to form. Will Catherine ever escape her past?

What I Liked:

Until It Fades reads like a Cinderella type story. It is predictable, romantic and sweet, yet fun. This is a light read without heavy angst and drama. So if you want something on the fluffy side, this is a good bet.

The story moves back and forth in time, you witness the horrible events that occurred during Catherine’s senior year in high school, then you are in the present as Catherine saves Brett. I liked the movement back and forth because I liked understanding Catherine’s character.

The romance is just right. I appreciate that it took its time to develop. It solidifies as a strong friendship before transitioning into something more. I especially liked that there was a great deal of trust between the two. Finally, there wasn’t angst or drama or any ridiculous stumbles, which I found refreshing.

I liked that this was a bit of a second chance story. After Catherine’s terrible fall, she busts her butt to find a way to succeed. I loved Catherine’s sheer determination. I couldn’t help but root for her. Yes, her character in the beginning is hard to like, but after you see how far she comes, you can’t help but cheer her on.

The cast of secondary characters was terrific. I loved Catherine’s diner family, especially how they stood beside her when everyone else abandoned her. I also enjoyed seeing Catherine work through the difficulties in her relationship with her own family.

I thought the way the story line involving the teacher was well done. It was especially nice to see how it all worked out.

The ending was sweet and nice. I perfect happily ever after.

And The Not So Much:

Even though I liked the romance and the story, it read too much like a Cinderella type fairy tale. It was a little hard to believe. So if you are going into this one expecting a realistic romance, this will disappoint you. It is also very predictable.

I loved Keith, Catherine’s best friend, who stood beside her through thick and thin. I was bothered the way things settled out. I wanted them to discuss things thoroughly. I also felt like this story line was left undone.

I listened to the audiobook version, and I had problems differentiating between the past and the present as there were no markers to let the reader know you were back in the past. I am sure it was marked clearly in the physical book, but for the audiobook the transitions were somewhat confusing.

Until It Fades is a light, fun fairy tale type romance perfect for when you want something light and fluffy. I appreciated that the romance was without drama and angst and that it took its time to develop. However, it felt a bit too unrealistic. Pick this up when you want a feel good read, but don’t go into it expecting to it to be a believable romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.

Comments

Audiobook Review: Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker

Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania: population two thousand outside of tourist season. And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed attempt at a relationship, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has saved: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling. Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works. For a time. But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. What begins as an immediate friendship quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something that Catherine is afraid to trust. Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine…before the spark fades? Paperback, 356 pagesPublished June 27th 2017 by Atria BooksSource: Publisher

Three and a half stars: A cute rag to riches/ Cinderella story, but it felt a bit too good to be true.

Catherine is used to struggles. She has worked to make it on her own since she was seventeen years old. After an illicit affair with her high school teacher, Catherine became the town pariah. At twenty four, she has fought to make ends meet and to provide a home for her five year old daughter. Everything changes one night as Catherine heads home on a dark, curvy road. Catherine comes upon a deadly car crash. Risking her life, Catherine saves Brett Madden a hockey icon. Catherine wants to hide as she doesn’t want her name back in the spotlight. What she doesn’t expect is a friendship to form. Will Catherine ever escape her past?

What I Liked:

Until It Fades reads like a Cinderella type story. It is predictable, romantic and sweet, yet fun. This is a light read without heavy angst and drama. So if you want something on the fluffy side, this is a good bet.

The story moves back and forth in time, you witness the horrible events that occurred during Catherine’s senior year in high school, then you are in the present as Catherine saves Brett. I liked the movement back and forth because I liked understanding Catherine’s character.

The romance is just right. I appreciate that it took its time to develop. It solidifies as a strong friendship before transitioning into something more. I especially liked that there was a great deal of trust between the two. Finally, there wasn’t angst or drama or any ridiculous stumbles, which I found refreshing.

I liked that this was a bit of a second chance story. After Catherine’s terrible fall, she busts her butt to find a way to succeed. I loved Catherine’s sheer determination. I couldn’t help but root for her. Yes, her character in the beginning is hard to like, but after you see how far she comes, you can’t help but cheer her on.

The cast of secondary characters was terrific. I loved Catherine’s diner family, especially how they stood beside her when everyone else abandoned her. I also enjoyed seeing Catherine work through the difficulties in her relationship with her own family.

I thought the way the story line involving the teacher was well done. It was especially nice to see how it all worked out.

The ending was sweet and nice. I perfect happily ever after.

And The Not So Much:

Even though I liked the romance and the story, it read too much like a Cinderella type fairy tale. It was a little hard to believe. So if you are going into this one expecting a realistic romance, this will disappoint you. It is also very predictable.

I loved Keith, Catherine’s best friend, who stood beside her through thick and thin. I was bothered the way things settled out. I wanted them to discuss things thoroughly. I also felt like this story line was left undone.

I listened to the audiobook version, and I had problems differentiating between the past and the present as there were no markers to let the reader know you were back in the past. I am sure it was marked clearly in the physical book, but for the audiobook the transitions were somewhat confusing.

Until It Fades is a light, fun fairy tale type romance perfect for when you want something light and fluffy. I appreciated that the romance was without drama and angst and that it took its time to develop. However, it felt a bit too unrealistic. Pick this up when you want a feel good read, but don’t go into it expecting to it to be a believable romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.